title: A laboratory-scale device for the straightforward production of uniform, small sized cell microcapsules with long-term cell viability.
abstract: Microencapsulated and genetically engineered cells may be used for prolonged delivery of therapeutically active proteins. The objective of this study was to develop a simple, inexpensive and flexible laboratory-scale device for the production of cell microcapsules, especially capsules of small diameter (<300 μm). Many microencapsulation devices are expensive, difficult to assemble and to use, and often more suitable for large-scale experiments. However, the simplicity and low price of the encapsulation system should not limit the quality of capsules and reproducibility of the process: for successful in vitro and in vivo experiments it is important to be able to produce uniform, spherical microcapsules without deformities with high reproducibility. In addition, an advantage of the present procedure compared to other similar, co-axial laminar gas flow systems is the possibility to produce also small microcapsules, less than 200 μm in diameter, with narrow size distribution. First, design, optimization and reproducibility testing of this custom-built device were carried out. Second, microencapsulated retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) capable of secreting soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (sVEGFR1) were engineered. The cells remained viable in alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules and secreted sVEGFR1 for prolonged periods.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Drug Research, University of Helsinki, Finland. leena.kontturi@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Leena-Stiina
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Kontturi
authors.forename: Marjo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yliperttula
authors.forename: Pyry
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toivanen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Määttä
authors.forename: Ann-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Määttä
authors.forename: Arto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urtti
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D010316:Particle Size; D011107:Polylysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C051546:alginate-polylysine-alginate; D011107:Polylysine; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1